Abstract

We have developed an integrating cavity absorption meter that is, in principal, rigorously independent of scattering effects. We review the theoretical basis for the instrument, describe one of the prototypes that has been constructed and tested, and present experimental results for absorption spectra of various samples. Measurement results from an August 1990 optical closure cruise for particulate and dissolved absorption of oceanic samples are presented. The particulate absorption measurements are compared to results for the same samples measured using the glass fiber filter technique. Results are also presented for absorption measurements of a laboratory phytoplankton culture as a function of time after treatment with a herbicide. Specifically, a phytoplankton culture was injected with DCMU and the absorption spectra of this culture was compared with that of a control culture over a 2-week period. Results show the effects of the herbicide on the growth of the culture.

© 1991 Optical Society of America